Fernando Augusto Colaço Leal Robles orFernando Robles (born 15 August 1940) is aPortuguese formerSecond Lieutenant (laterColonel) who participated in initial counterinsurgency operations against insurgentUnião dos Povos de Angola (UPA) guerrillas operating in northernAngola during 1961, at the onset of thePortuguese Colonial War. He was born inCoimbra.
After graduating fromColégio Militar and failing his second year atAcademia Militar, Robles was initially commissioned a conscripted second lieutenant (in Portuguese "Alferes miliciano") of infantry. In 1960, he volunteered for training and assignment to a new Portuguese special operations and counterinsurgency force, theCompanhias de Caçadores Especiais (Special Sharpshooter Companies, or CCE). The initialCaçadores Especiais companies were composed of volunteers from standard infantry units who were considered better adapted for intensive training in antiguerrilla operations.[1] Trained at theCentro de Instrução de Operações Especiais (CIOE, or Center for Special Operations Instruction)[2] inLamego, the CCE were the first Portuguese troops to wear the brown beret and camouflage combat uniform in combat.
Robles duly graduated and was assigned to the6ª Companhia de Caçadores Especiais, which deployed toLuanda,Angola the same year along with three otherCaçadores Especiais companies.[3] While participating in operations in northern Angola against UPA rebels in and round the area known asDembos, inCuanza Norte Province in Angola, the6ª Companhia de Caçadores Especiais became notorious for its reprisals against secessionist native Angolans in a brutal "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" counterinsurgency campaign. On the other hand, the contribution this company gave to the saving of thousands of lives (white and mixed-blood settlers and native farm workers who didn't join UPA) cannot be denied.[4][5][6]
For his bravery while participating in the operations against the UPA, 2nd Lt. Robles was awarded theMedalha de Prata de Valor Militar com palma (Silver Military Medal of Valor with Palm). After re-joining and graduating fromAcademia Militar he joined the PortugueseCommandos. As alieutenant and later on acaptain of this special force, Robles served inGuinea-Bissau and – for a second time – inAngola, where he remained until 1975. After the war he was transferred to theGuarda Nacional Republicana and retired as acolonel in 2002.[7]
Military Valor Medal (Silver with Palm) (MPVM)[a] (Portugal)